Sobejana said that the victims were recovered by residents of barangay Kagay who spotted the three strangers at around 9am in their barangay.

The three were then turned over to the police who were able to identify them as the three construction workers who were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf at the Kampang Elementary School Complex last July 15.

The three attributed their escape to continuous military operations conducted to rescue the kidnap victims.

The victims were reportedly moved by their ASG captors, led by Almujer Yadah, from one place to another thus pushing them away from the Abu Sayyaf stronghold and on to places where they cannot avail of any community support.

At around 4pm yesterday while their captors are praying, the three found a chance to escape and ran until they reached Barangay Kagay where they were found by residents the following morning.

Unconfirmed reports surfaced yesterday about a botched payment of ransom after the Abu Sayyaf were reportedly paid by fake bills by still unnamed negotiators.

It will be recalled that the Abu Sayyaf had been threatening to behead the victims since last Wednesday and were demanding a ransom payment of P2-million from the victims’ families.

Sources said that the workers were about to be released at around 1pm last Thursday after the ransom money was received by the Abu Sayyaf.

The victims however were not released after the bandits noticed that the ransom payment included fake bills.

The victims reportedly were able to escape when the bandits were praying that same afternoon.

Three of the victims were spotted by barangay officials in barangay Kagay, Talipao municipality at 7:30am Friday and brought to the Joint Task Force Sulu headquarters.

There is no information as to the whereabouts of the other kidnap victim, Edmundo Ramos. (Liza Jocson)